2014 Nissan Pathfinder Ti - $65,090EGC

Nissan has gone through its fair share of change in recent years. From dropping, then reintroducing, the once-loved Pulsar, to ushering in a raft of new nameplates (Dualis, Altima and Juke, to name a few).

Among the change, though, has been consistency, with the likes of the Patrol and Pathfinder, each of which has been around for decades.

But the latest Pathfinder has changed focus. Whereas previous iterations have been about going off-road - culminating in the outgoing model that was a seriously capable 4WD - the new one is more about city slicking with some ability to deal with gravel trails or snow-covered alps. Lower slung, slightly bloated styling in a sizeable five-door SUV body make the Pathfinder the latest to take on the family SUV segment dominated by the likes of the Toyota Kluger, Mazda CX-9 and Hyundai Santa Fe.

What do you get?

Life in a Pathfinder starts at $39,990 for the ST model driving only the front wheels. For that you get reversing camera, rear parking sensors, 18-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, cruise control, powered driver's seat, tyre pressure monitoring system, six airbags (with side curtains covering all three rows), onboard music hard-drive and, impressively, three-zone air-conditioning that provides separate controls for those in the rear. Seating for seven is also standard. There's also a smart key but it still requires you to press a button on the front door handles to unlock the doors.

As it does across the range, four-wheel-drive adds $4000 or more but you still have to make do with a skinny space-saver tyre that reduces speed to 80km/h.

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By the time you get to the Ti tested here it's $60,790-plus and brings a powered tailgate, 20-inch wheels, satellite navigation with a larger screen and a 13-speaker Bose sound system as well as various memory functions that allow programming of the driver's seat, steering wheel and mirrors for various drivers. There are also additional cameras that can provide an overhead view that's handy for manoeuvring.

What's inside?

There's a familiar Nissan look to the presentation, which is OK. A high-mounted touchscreen is easy enough to navigate and includes buttons below it for those who prefer to press the real thing.

The driving position is commanding but not towering. Similarly, the seats tread a just-right mix of support and comfort. White-lit instruments are split by a trip computer controlled off the steering wheel.

Storage is generous up front, as are power outlets; as well as a pair in a storage binnacle beneath the centre stack there's another one and a USB outlet in the twin level centre console.

Those in the middle row sit higher (the middle position uncomfortably so) but still have ample head room. The two sunroofs have a proper cover to stop the sun blazing through on hot days.

Temperatures are also controlled further aft with air vents to all three rows, while the rear DVD screens - while small - will provide some long distance respite.

Getting into the tighter two-seat rear row requires some more acrobatics, although the 60/40 sliding middle row (you flip the top half then slide the whole arrangement) partially helps out (although the head rests seriously limit how far those seats will slide).

The third row is less fussy, with a single pull-strap to quickly flip and fold each individually.

With all seven seats in use boot space is tight, but keep it to five seats and there's a cavernous, flat-floored area, as well as a deep underfloor binnacle.

There would be toilet breaks every 10 minutes if you used every cupholder; there are four in the third row, eight in the middle row and another quartet up front. But at least they provide more spots for odds and ends to hide.

Impressively, for those looking to ferry plenty of little ones, there are seatbelt monitors for all seven positions.

Under the bonnet

The Pathfinder gets a willing 3.5-litre V6 that is not lacking in grunt. There's a handy 190kW on offer, with the 325Nm of torque providing middle-rev response that easily overcomes the near 2.1-tonne frame. It's also well matched to the CVT (continuously variable transmission), which offers an infinite spread of ratios.

Fuel use, though, can be relatively high; think 10L/100km on a freeway and half that again around town.

In four-wheel-drive models there's a selectable system that toggles between 2WD, 4WD auto and 4WD lock. It's the former two that you'll use most of the time, with the latter reserved for very slippery conditions.

In two-wheel-drive everything is sent to the front wheels, which, with the power of the V6, can trigger the traction control to contain wheelspin.

Four-wheel-drive auto is a handy setting and will still send most of the drive to the front wheels, only bringing the rears into play when accelerating out of slower bends or if slip is detected.

However, ours had an annoying vibration in that 4WD auto mode whereby once the rear drive was engaged there was a noticeable shudder through the vehicle.

The Pathfinder is rated to tow up to 2700 kilograms, although with a full load on board (and towball weight of 200 kilograms) you reduce the in-car load rating by 300 kilograms; people and luggage can't exceed a modest 350 kilograms.

On the road

There's a lot of weight to contend with in the Pathfinder, something that plays on its dynamic ability, which is average compared with rivals. It starts with a general remoteness, something not helped by light, uncommunicative steering that's also not especially direct.

Through faster bends with bumps there's also a hint of kickback through the steering wheel, although not pronounced.

The Pathfinder picks up some of the smaller imperfections on city streets, but it's more compliant approaching freeway speeds, at which point there's also some leaning through bends. Inside, though, the cabin is quiet and refined.

Verdict

The change in philosophy makes the Pathfinder more family-friendly, albeit at the expense of off-road prowess. And while it has a flexible, spacious interior it doesn't redefine a competitive breed, some of which are ahead when it comes to driving manners.